Parliamentary questions

419. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of mental health staff currently trained in or working on culturally competent services for Travellers. [60590/25]

420. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if there are dedicated mental health programmes or outreach services targeting the Traveller community; and the way in which these programmes are evaluated for effectiveness. [60591/25]

421. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of Travellers employed in the mental health workforce; and if there are initiatives to increase representation. [60592/25]

422. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in recruiting healthcare assistance in home support while there is an exceptional demand for such in Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60603/25]

423. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has taken steps to amend medical card eligibility to recognise clinically based eligibility with parity to income and automatically include cancer patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60612/25]

424. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the demand for nurses in nursing homes to be able to administer IVs; and the measures being taken to alleviate current shortages. [60613/25]

425. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the progress that has been made toward the digitalisation of healthcare services under the 'Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework for Ireland 2024-2030' framework. [60614/25]

426. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of a "Shared Care Record" aimed at combining patient data across all elements of health services, as well as access to a patient app for accessing records; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60615/25]

427. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has considered implementing regulations for nicotine pouch marketing in an effort to reduce the addictive potential of such products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60617/25]

428. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health if her Department has reviewed the availability of mental health supports for survivors of domestic and sexual violence; her plans to expand access in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60647/25]

429. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has insight into long-term health and economic benefits that could be associated with adding the shingles vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule, given the growing population aged 65+ across Ireland. [60653/25]

430. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if HIQA has undertaken inspections of IPAS centres specifically focused on compliance with policy statements on domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence safeguards since the introduction of the 2019 National Standards for Accommodation; and if such inspection reports are publicly available. [60687/25]

431. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if HIQA plans to update or expand its inspection criteria for IPAS to include explicit standards relating to policy statements on domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence prevention, reporting, and response; and when this will take effect. [60688/25]

432. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will establish dedicated sexual violence and sexual health clinics accessible to international protection applicants, given concerns raised by women regarding past experiences of sexual violence and the absence of accessible therapeutic supports. [60689/25]

433. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if she will consider the establishment of satellite counselling and therapeutic services within or adjacent to IPAS centres, to ensure persons with experiences of sexual violence or coercive control can access trauma-informed care without prohibitive barriers such as transport or childcare. [60690/25]

434. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Health if her Department will ensure that maternity and sexual health services provided to women in IPAS are culturally competent and trauma-informed, recognising that many women have disclosed experiences of sexual violence both prior to and during their journey to Ireland. [60693/25]

435. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health for an update on the rollout of the national electronic health record system; its expected impact on patient care coordination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60704/25]

436. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the rollout of the national endometriosis framework; the way in which its implementation will be monitored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60705/25]

437. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Health whether funding has been allocated for the establishment of new specialist endometriosis hubs in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60706/25]

438. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number and location of public hospitals currently providing specialist chronic pain management clinics in each regional health area; the average waiting time for a first appointment at each clinic; the number of clinics or sessions cancelled in each of the past three years; and if she will set target ratios of chronic pain clinics per 100,0…

439. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant anaesthetists or pain medicine specialists employed in the HSE; the number of vacant posts; the HSE’s projected staffing requirements to meet demand identified by TILDA 2025; and whether specific funding has been ring-fenced to expand the pain management workforce in 2026. [60731/25]

440. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total HSE expenditure on chronic pain management services in each of the past five years; the budget allocation for community-based non-pharmacological pain interventions (physiotherapy, CBT, mindfulness, graded exercise programmes, and so on); and whether dedicated funding for chronic pain services will be included in the 2026 HSE Service …

441. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of persons over 65 years-of-age currently accessing pain management services; the steps being taken to identify and support older adults living with untreated chronic pain; and whether her Department plans to introduce an older persons pain management strategy aligned with Sláintecare’s integrated-care objectives. [60733/25]

442. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the publication timeline for the Model of Care for Pain being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Anaesthesia; whether an implementation budget and performance metrics have been agreed; and the way in which the model of care will be integrated into primary care networks and community hubs. [60734/25]

443. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE plans to include chronic pain prevalence and treatment indicators in the Health Performance Overview datasets from 2026 onwards; and if not, the rationale for the omission given that one-third of older adults report chronic pain (TILDA 2025). [60735/25]